Parliament Question: Special Relief Package to the Victims of Animal Attack

OIH GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4962 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 Special Relief Package to the Victims of Animal Attack 4962. SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to release compensation and a special relief package for the victims and the kin of people died and injured due to wild animal attack in the Shirdi Lok Sabha Constituency in Maharashtra immediately; (b) whether the Government acknowledges that the current compensation processes is proving to be overly complex, slow and ineffective for the victims; (c) the number of affected families provided assistance so far and the number of cases yet to be settled; and (d) whether the Government proposes to set up a special cell to provide medical assistance, rehabilitation support and social security benefits to the affected families immediately and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (d) The management of wildlife including mitigation of human-animal conflicts is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration. The State Government/UT Administration are the first responders to any conflict situation and they maintain the details of the conflict along with the species involved. The Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ and ‘Project Tiger and Elephant’ for management of wildlife and its habitat in the country. The activities supported include procurement of early warning systems, construction and erection of physical barriers such as barbed wire fence, solar, powered electric fence, bio-fencing, boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields, compensation for depredation by wild animals including cattle lifting, crop damage, loss of life and property. Rapid Response Teams are also deployed to mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflict. Further, the Ministry enhanced the amount of ex-gratia relief in case of death or permanent incapacitation due to wild animal attacks in December 2023 from Rs. 5 lakhs to 10lakhs under these Schemes, subject to availability of funds, and the payment of which is also governed by State specific guidelines/ provisions made in this regard. The details are given in the table below: S. No. Nature of damage caused Amount of ex-gratia relief by wild animals Death or permanent Rs.10.00 lakhs i. incapacitation Grievous injury Rs.2.00 lakhs ii. Minor injury Cost of treatment up to Rs.25,000/- per iii. person Loss of property/crops State/UT Government may adhere to iv. the cost norms prescribed by them. The States/Union Territories make ex-gratia payments for loss of livestock, crops and human life including injuries due to human-wildlife conflicts as per the norms, which vary in States and UTs. As per the advisory of the Ministry dated 6th february 2021, a suitable portion of ex-gratia relief should be paid within 24 hours to the affected persons in the case of death and injury to persons. It also recommends State level and District Level Committees for improving coordination for timely payment of ex-gratia amount. *****